Joan Rivers, comedy legend and Hollywood icon has passed away at the age of 81, her daughter Melissa Rivers reported on Thursday.
After a week-long fight for life since suffering a heart attack during routine surgery last week, Rivers’ family switched off her life support last night.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers,” said Melissa in a statement.
“She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother.
“Cooper and I have found ourselves humbled by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received from around the world. They have been heard and appreciated.
“My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.” Rivers will reportedly be laid to rest this Sunday at New York’s Temple Emanu-El.
Just a day before Melissa had released a statement saying that her mother had been moved out of intensive care and was resting comfortably in a private room.
She also asked fans to pray for Joan, saying, “On behalf of my mother and our family, we are extremely grateful for all the love and support we’ve received.
“I know my mother would be overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of kindness and I want to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers.”
Famed for her sharp tongue and quick wit, her first big break came in 1965, when she made her first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 1968, she landed her first talk show, The Joan Rivers Show, and her profile continued to rise with appearances on The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. In 1978 she wrote and directed the film “Rabbit Test,” starring Billy Crystal.
She hosted The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers for one season, starting in 1987, and returned to daytime TV with The Joan Rivers Show in 1989.
Best known for her presence on the red carpet, she and her daughter turned the red carpet into it’s own brand of entertainment, which became for many just as exciting as the award shows themselves.
Rivers brought her judgments of celebrity fashion to E! in 2002, on the series Fashion Police alongside Giuliana Rancic and Kelly Osbourne.
I love you with all my heart @Joan_Rivers my life will never be the same with out you! https://t.co/0kn2FFZDF9 pic.twitter.com/zQnXlwepXh
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) September 4, 2014
Joan Rivers will always be a pioneer. She paved the way for a lot of comedians. I’m very sad she’s gone. pic.twitter.com/i1uE9fyHMh
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) September 4, 2014
Hollywood until the end, Joan Rivers previously said this about the kind of funeral she was after:
Watch a tribute to 50 years of Joan Rivers’ legacy below:
